Thursday, February 28, 2008

Meet distinguished red smooth 'Karma,' and veterinarian Michelle Chappell and assistant Nichole Puskas from greater Kansas City. Karma is receiving acupuncture treatments for liver disease at Mariposa Veterinary Center in Lenexa, Kansas. Dr. Chappell used to be skeptical about acupuncture, but the successes that she has seen with acupuncture in dachshunds has changed her mind. “I wasn’t going to put another wiener dog to sleep because I didn’t know acupuncture,” she said. “Sometimes it’s the only option an animal has.” Read all about it at The Shawnee Sun.

Meet little chocolate smooth 'Bart' and his dad Tom from the Netherlands. Bart and Tom spend their quality time singing duets. Dad is quite good, and has more videos available which showcase his singing and piano a little better. Bart, on the other hand, possibly needs more practice. Nice hardwood floors, by the way!

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

We're always fascinated when advertisers choose dachshunds to hock their wares, so when we got our new copy of Graphic Design USA in the mail yesterday, we were excited to see an article on a clean and green product re-design for a pet supply company called Petrotech. While it's not a huge stretch to see dachshund images on pet supplies, it seems we usually take a backseat for golden retrievers and jack russels.And if you need air freshener around the house, who doesn't want DE-SKUNK air cleaner with a nice pic of a doxie on the can? We're stinky critters sometimes! We found it for sale here, and it looks like a quality product. If you're interested in the Petrotech product re-design process, read all about it at Kitchen Collaborative.

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Meet handsome little black and tan smooth 'Ricky.' He slipped a disc in his back, and was completely paralyzed in his hind legs, and had issues with his front legs as well. When he first went to visit Dr. Skip Hightman at the Brentwood Animal Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, he couldn't walk at all. Acupuncture has helped Ricky to walk again. Excerpt fromFirst Coast News: Little Ricky is clipping along as he takes a stroll around the hallways of the Brentwood Animal Clinic. Everyone is happy to see how easy he moves. Because just two months earlier it was a much different story for the Dachshund.The big change in Ricky didn't come from any medicine. Dr. Hightman says Ricky got his movement back through acupuncture.Dr. Hightman places thin acupuncture needles in some of the 150 acupuncture points on dogs. Ricky hardly even budges and never makes a sound."We normally leave them in for 20 minutes," says Dr. Hightman. In the beginning, Ricky had treatments several days a week and even had electric acupuncture too.Read all about Ricky, acupuncture, and Dr. Hightman's holistic practice atFirst Coast News.Find out more about dachshunds and IVDD (Inter-Vertebral Disc Disease) atDodger's List.

Monday, February 25, 2008

Meet 'Woody' and his human, author Leigh Anne Florence, of Murray, Kentucky. Woody and his dachshund sister 'Chloe' star in their own book series and newspaper column for children. They also travel all over the state of Kentucky, talking to children about the importance of being a good reader and citizen. Woody's motto is "work and dream like a big dog." Excerpt from theCourier-Journal: While the students at St. Rita Catholic School were excited to see Kentucky author Leigh Anne Florence last week, they were more excited about whom she brought with her."Be honest -- you did not come here to see me," Florence said to the smiling elementary school children who sat in rows on the floor facing her. "Who did you come to see?"

In unison, the 50 or so students shouted their answer: "Woody!"Woody, a black and tan dachshund lovingly known as "The Kentucky Wiener," has been made famous among children through Florence's book series and newspaper columns about the dog and his "sister," Chloe.

Florence travels, with Woody and Chloe in tow, to schools all over Kentucky and the region teaching children "Woody's Five Ways to be Successful" and "Woody's Five Ways to Improve Writing."

Sunday, February 24, 2008

Who? Oh please. George Harrison, MBE (25 February 1943 – 29 November 2001) was an English rock guitarist, singer, songwriter, author and sitarist best known as the lead guitarist of The Beatles. Following the band's breakup, Harrison had a successful career as a solo artist and later as part of the Traveling Wilburys super group where he was known as both Nelson Wilbury and Spike Wilbury. He was also a film producer, with his production company Handmade Films, involving people as diverse as Madonna and the members of Monty Python. From an initial exposure whilst a member of the Beatles, he maintained a high public profile regarding his religious and spiritual life.
We can't say with unbridled certainty that this is George's red smooth dachshund named 'Ozzy,' but that's the long and short of it all. Surely Mr. Harrison had a dachshund on his mind when he penned these lyrics to Here Come The Sun:

Little darling, it's been a long cold lonely winter Little darling, it feels like years since it's been here Here comes the sun, here comes the sun and I say it's all right

Happy Birthday Mr. Harrison, and find out more about George Harrison at wikipedia, or listen to him sing and play at youtube.

Have a listen to a live George Harrison version of every dachshund's favorite song, the fantastic Here Comes the Sun, and enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Friday, February 22, 2008

Thanks to Cathy P. for the tip about the piglet and dachshund momma! Look close at the pink one. We don't know the story behind this, but there are about 8 cute pics over at Cute Overload.Update: our friend Tiffany sent us the email which is circulating that has these photos, and the email states: For all of us animal lovers out there... thought you would enjoy this one.Dachshund mom is fostering this guy for another mom who couldn't take care of him. He had his eyes closed, but now they are open. He is just a little bigger than her other pups. She loves this little guy more than the other puppies and she is nursing him back to health. He is the cleanest "puppy" ever because she licks him all the time.Update 2/29: The owner of 'Tink' (Tinkerbell the dachshund) and 'Pink' (the piglet) has given several updates in the comments at Puppy in Training. There are also new pics and another update here. This is an excerpt: "He (Pink) was born premature to one of my sows. She had 12 babies and he was the only one born with his eyes sealed shut. Piglets normally are born with their eyes open and they are ready to nurse within a few minutes. Pink was so tiny and he didn’t have any suck reflex. We were in the barn almost the entire night and we just kept him under the heat lamp/head mat. We didn’t think he would live, but he did! Before we went to the house, my husband tried again to get him to nurse. He squeezed some milk into his mouth and got some colostrum into him. I took him to the house to see if Tink would nurse him. She had only had 1 puppy a few days before and she was also fostering 2 other puppies from my other litter. My other doxie had a total of 7 pups (her first litter) and I was afraid it would be too hard on her. I gave Tink 2 of her pups and she was so happy to have more puppies. She was even happier when I gave her the pig to nurse.She licked him all over and let him nurse. Pink took right to Tink and nursed on her. That’s the story behind the pictures.” See the newer pics at Puppy in Training.

Thursday, February 21, 2008

Meet handsome 8-year-old black and tan longhair 'Jasper' and his human, Helga Ramsay, of Wisbech, UK. They are pictured getting a make-over yesterday, which they won in a rafffle at Orchard Dog Grooming Parlour in Wisbech. Jasper looks so excited to have won! Excerpt from theWisbech Standard: A doting dog owner and her dashing Dachshund have both treated to a make-over thanks to an unusual raffle prize.As Jasper was pampered and groomed by college students, Mrs Ramsay had her hair cut and styled by hairdresser Lynn Ellis. Mrs Ellis who has been a qualified hairdresser for 22 years, is changing careers and is training to become a dog groomer.As eight-year-old Jasper enjoyed all the attention, Mrs Ramsay said: "He is a very clever little dog and quite a character."Jasper is good friends with Mrs Ramsay's other dog, Jack, who is blind. She said: "Jasper looks after him and acts as his eyes." Jasper is also friends with two hamsters, Petal and Ronald, allowing them to run along his tummy and sit on his head.Read all about the make-over prize at theWisbech Standard.

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Michigan artist Brian Rubenacker offers up this 'cool cat' dachshund print at his Etsy shopfor just $12.99. Urban hipster dachshund lovers need this bad. From theEtsy site: "This Dachshund is too cool for words. Hanging out in the coffee house listening to some poetry and discussing philosophy."

The excellent dachumentary Wiener Takes All: A Dogumentary continues its run in the film festival circuit, and will be screened at these upcoming festivals. Don't miss it, festival tickets sell out fast:

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

We've gotta be quick and book our plane tickets to Pittsburgh to catch the exhibition "Canis Major: Warhol's Dogs and Cats (and other party animals)" which runs through May 4th at the Andy Warhol Museum. Inspired by Warhol's love of animals, the "Canis Major" exhibit features photographs, paintings, screen prints, drawings and videos of animals, including his pets. Excerpt from thePittsburgh Post-Gazette: Warhol's dachshunds, Amos and Archie, accompanied him almost everywhere he went, and they appear in many photographs, including a 1978 photo from High Times magazine in which writer Truman Capote poses with Warhol, who has Archie tucked under his arm. A TV screen in the "Canis Major" exhibit shows a continuous loop of one of the dachshunds playing with toys and with friends of the artist.Fifteen paintings are mounted on the wall of the "Canis Major" exhibit, including a 1976 painting simply titled "Dog." While it is clearly a dachshund, Warhol paints the dog in blue, mauve and orange, using acrylic and silk screen on linen. Read all about the exhibition at thePittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Thanks to Christa V. for the tip about this photo in the print edition of Sunday'sNew York Times!From the Sunday Styles section: Feb 10: Iris Love arrived in a chariot for her annual dinner at the Tavern on the Green for 541 guests in honor of the Westminster Kennel Club dog show.

Our invitation must have gotten lost in the mail, but Iris Love is still our hero! Read all about herhere.

Sunday, February 17, 2008

Who? Kai Fischer (born March 18th, 1934 in Prague) is a German movie actress, author, and former model. She was a bit of a siren, and seemed to work in mostly "B movies" throughout the 50's and 60's with such exported titles as Naughty Knickers, Island of the Doomed, The Monster of London City, Playgirl After Dark, Girls of the Night, I Was All His, Call Girls, Waylaid Women, Too Hot To Handle (with Jayne Mansfield) and Naked in the Night. Woof!She received more serious roles when she turned to television acting in the 1970's. We don't know the name of her red longhair dachshund. Find out more about Kai Fischer at this translated German wikipedia link.

La Isla de la Muerta, which was exported with various titles including Death Island, Man Eater of Hydra, and The Bloodsuckers.

Saturday, February 16, 2008

This is pretty little 4-year-old red smooth 'Babe.' Photos don't do justice for this beautiful girl, her dark red color with a darker overlay really has to be seen in person. She was an owner surrender at a shelter that was overwhelmed with dogs, and they asked MidWest Dachshund Rescue for help. Joey and Maggie transported her from the shelter to her MWDR foster home today.She got a lot of vetting at the shelter, including boosters and a microchip, and tonight she's going back to the vet to be spayed.If you're interested in such a pretty girl, check your local doxie rescue, or, if you live in the Midwest, contact MWDR. We thought she was shy yet sassy (in a good way) in the few hours we got to know her, and she has a great loving overall disposition.We hope she finds her wonderful forever home soon. Here are some pics from her journey.

Just wait 'til next year!EJ's 'CC Rider,' a 1-year old red smooth dachshund, waits in the ring to be judged during the 132nd Westminster Kennnel Club Dog Show at Madison Square Garden Monday, Feb. 11, 2008 in New York. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)

Friday, February 15, 2008

Meet 'Gus,' a handsome 4-year-old black and tan dapple longhair from Omaha, Nebraska. Gus and a team of therapy dogs recently helped calm people after a December shooting at Westroads Mall in Omaha. Gus and his human were there within hours after the shooting, and remained for several weeks, including the re-opening of the mall. Excerpt fromKETV7: "That uncertainty about what lay ahead for them, and the challenges, instantly turned to comfort when they saw the dogs waiting for them at the doors," [Westroads asst mgr] Prew said."What we see is that even when we respond to a disaster, it's very hard for people to open up to us," [Gus' handler] O'Hara said. "What we see happen with the dogs is that people open up immediately."Read all about Gus, and see a news video all about Gus atKETV7.

Meet little black and tan smooth 'Nelly,' and her human, First Parish Unitarian Universalist Rev. Sarah Clark from Plymouth, Massachusetts. Reverend Clark has authored a new book, Out of the Fog, a collection of inspirational vignettes of her thoughts and meditations. Nelly is one of her inspirations. Excerpt fromWickedLocal: Her miniature Dachshund, Nelly, chewed the leather cover of her 19th-century book, and the Rev. Sarah Clark frowned in thought as she considered the effect of a century of book mites on Nelly’s digestion. Then Nelly stole the tennis ball from Sadie and overturned a flowerpot as “mom” tried desperately to answer a barrage of e-mails.“Finally, I took notice before even more egregious acts of doggy daring could be perpetrated,” Clark writes in her book.Nelly finally begs to be lifted and Clark deposits her beloved dog on her lap, adding, “It seemed that all Nelly really wanted was to be held.”Clark then recalls all the creatures and people in her life who raised Cain until she stopped and held them – her young sons who once craved her attention, the old woman and friends who needed their hands held or wanted the reassurance of her voice.“Sometimes all any of us want and need is to be held,” she writes. “Sometimes all any of us can do for our loved ones is hold them. And so often, that is enough.”Read all about Reverend Clark and her book atWickedLocal.

Thursday, February 14, 2008

Dachshund Love all around! Here's a great Valentine's Day card from over 100 years ago, in 1906: To my ValentineDachshunds and pretzelsand Cupid, you see,Bear from me this message,"I dearly love thee."

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Valentine's Day is for lovers: Dachshund Lovers. Meet 'Dixie,' the pretty black and tan smooth doxie girl who hails from Annapolis, Maryland. She's pictured with her human, Mickie Deline, as Michelle Ullrich-Kownacki helps her put on a new pink shirt for Valentine's Day at Paws Pet Boutique in Annapolis.

Read all about Dixie, Pet Paws Boutique, and holiday gifts for pets at HomeTownAnnapolis. What's your doxie getting for Valentine's Day? It would be a great day to give to a dachshund organization of your choice.

Joey made a new bff (best friend forever) at a local dachshund meetup on Sunday. His name is 'Frankie,' he's a red sable longhair, and it was love at first sight. See about 30 pics of pretty doxies from the event right here. Maggie is mad that there are no pictures of her to be found anywhere.

Regardless, find a local dachshund meetup group near you! The best place to start is meetup.com, google for a group, check your local craigslist, or start your own. Just get your dachshund out of the house! What fun!

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Thanks to Jerry S. for the story tip! Luckily no hotdoggers were injured when the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile took a spin and crashed on a snow-covered Pennsylvania highway on Sunday. Tongue-in-cheek excerpt from theStar-Gazette: Let's be frank: motor vehicle accidents aren't much fun for anyone. But when a 27-foot-long tube-steak spins out on a snow-covered highway, it's bound to generate some grins.The growler contained two "hotdoggers" -- driver Emily Volpini, 22, of Lexington, Ky., and Caylen Goudie, 22, of Hinsdale, Ill. Although they didn't relish the experience, they weren't hurt, investigating state Trooper Rex Johnson said."We thought we had come out of the blizzard," Goudie said. "We thought we were through it. Then we hit a patch of ice. The Wienermobile weighs 7,000 pounds, so usually ice and snow isn't much of a problem. It was this time."Stuck, Volpini called 911 dispatchers in Wellsboro. Though skeptical at first, they notified state police at Mansfield. As passersby called in the crash on cell phones, the dispatchers became convinced that the barkburger was indeed in hot water.Police contacted Dave Kurzejewski of Costy's Truck and Auto Mart, and he showed up in short order with a heavy four-wheel-drive vehicle and some chains. Johnson, the trooper, grilled the women briefly and concluded that a routine and sober spinout was all he had on his plate.Kurzejewski hooked up and Emily fired up the highway hot dog, and a few well-timed tugs later, the Wienermobile was back on the highway.For Kurzejewski, veteran of hundreds of tows over the years, Sunday's experience was a new one."I've pulled out a lot of vehicles," he said. "But that's the first wiener I've ever pulled out."It was a first for the women, too. They left none the wurst for wear."Usually we try to keep from scratching our buns," Goudie said. "But sometimes, things go wrong."Read more at theStar-Gazette.

We've said it before: it's hard work to be so beautiful. Black and tan longhair 'Harley' takes a well-deserved nap backstage with her owner and handler, Alex Davison, at Westminster.Photo Source: The New York Times.

Monday, February 11, 2008

It's 2008, and so what did this, the 132nd year of Westminster bring us? A first-time best in show for a dachshund? Nah, a beagle took the hounds, longhair doxie second. At least we're still the underdog.It may as well be 1945, so enjoy this interesting dachshund illustration from that year by Gladys Cook which details the different dachshund coat types. Westminster doesn't know what it's missing.Chicago Cubs..., Dachshunds at Westminster, it's pretty much the same thing: "just wait til next year!"

After the Kentucky Derby, Westminster is America's second-oldest sporting tradition. The first show was held in 1877, when Rutherford B. Hayes was president, back when the telephone had just been invented and before electric light and power had come to be.The 2-day event starts today at Madison Square Garden in New York, and even though a dachshund has never won best in show, we will of course be rooting for the dachshunds! The underdog! This is the year!

Above, meet handsome wire-hair 'Romeo,' his human Janet Schwalbe of Pendergrass, Georgia, and one of his handlers, Gillian Caudill of Watkinsville, Georgia. Romeo will be spending most of this day in a bench showing, where people have an opportunity to "meet the breeds" and see which dogs best handle standing on display for hours. Romeo also will compete for Best of Variety (or the Best of Opposite Sex) and three awards of merit. Read all about the local Georgians atOnline Athens.Find out more about Westminster atThe Westminster Kennel Club.

Meet handsome smooth black dappled 'Duke,' who hails from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Duke injured his back jumping down off the bed, and it seemed to heal OK with the use of steroids, but a few months later his hindquarters became paralyzed, and he also lost control of his bowels and bladder. Excerpt fromThe Morning Sun: "I did think briefly about putting him down," Linville, Duke's owner, said, "but he's not in pain, and he still seemed happy. Then Dr. Micky Painter suggested a wheelchair, and I spent a lot of time researching them."She settled on Dogon Wheels, which can be customized to the animal."It came with instructions on how to help the dog slowly get used to it, but he got accustomed to it very quickly," Linville said."I'm hoping that someday Duke won't need the wheels any longer," Linville said. "But if he does, that's all right. I really want people to know that animals don't necessarily need to be put down after an injury like this, and they can possibly continue to have a good quality of life." Read all about Duke atThe Morning Sun.Find out more about dachshunds and IVDD atDodgerslist.

Sunday, February 10, 2008

You might be a redneck if you take your dachshund for a walk and you both use the same tree.Regardless, this is pretty 2-year-old mini red smooth 'Dynadaux Redneck Girl,' and her nickname is 'Bellamy,' after the Bellamy Brothers who recorded the song, “Redneck Girl.” Bellamy and her human, Donnie Breaun, who hail from Murfreesboro, Tennessee, hope to impress the judges tomorrow at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at Madison Square Garden. Go get 'em Bellamy! Excerpt from theMurfreesboro Post: “Redneck Girl” will compete for conformation, defined as the “structure and physical characteristics of a dog.” Judges examine the whole dog for how it’s built and how it moves.“Her movement is what sells her,” Breaun said with a touch of pride. “She has gorgeous movement.”Dogs must be champions in other shows to compete at Westminster. The top five dogs are automatically invited. The 11-pound “Redneck Girl” is a No. 5 dachshund of both miniature and standards with only four others ahead of her. She is the No. 1 miniature dachshund.Read all about Bellamy at theMurfreesboro Post.If you want a closer look at the dachshunds at Westminster, competition in each breed and variety may be viewed in streaming video at The Westminster Kennel Club. This video will be available within two hours of completion of the judging of that breed.

Friday, February 8, 2008

It seems like all roads lead to Iris Love and Westminster in the world of dachshunds. Now we know why Wiener Takes All labeled Mrs. Love "Patron Saint of the Dachshund World." We'd love to meet her. We love her support of piebalds. We love her devotion to the breed. And boy, we'd love to attend her annual dachshund soiree at Tavern on the Green. (Iris....call us.......wink wink!) Condé Nast Portfolio offers up a revealing look at Iris Love, the world of dachshunds, and the world of show dogs and Westminster. We couldn't even begin to highlight just a piece of this must-read article. Don't miss it, it's called The Long Journey to Be Top Dog.

Thursday, February 7, 2008

Meet 'Harley,' the lucky red smooth dachshund from Lafayette County, Mississippi, near Oxford. Harley survived the deadliest barrage of tornadoes seen in the United States in 23 years, which hit five southern states Tuesday night. Our hearts go out to all these good folks. Excerpt fromCommercial Appeal: Bessie Mae Russell, and her husband, John, went to the hospital for stitches. Bessie cried for her dachshund, Harley. He wouldn't come in the laundry room when the tornado hit.There was no sign of him in the debris early Wednesday morning. But later, a family member called his name and the red dog wriggled out from under a pile of debris unhurt. Read more about the tornado damage in Lafayette County, Mississippi atCommercial Appeal.

Wednesday, February 6, 2008

Woof! Boy do we like nice collars. We use our harnesses for long walks, but there's nothing quite like the comfort and luxury of a hand-made, hand-stitched leather collar.....quality that will last a lifetime. This collar is one of dozens of styles available at Paris-based Stray Leather.Stray is the culmination of the years of experience of London-born Venetia Rudland, who studied shoe design at Cordwainers College, and worked for the finest leathergoods designers in London and Paris.Of course, Venetia's inspiration and muse is her handsome red smooth dachshund 'Bertie.'Available at Barney's in New York, Mungo and Maud in London, or contact Stray Leather. They also do custom work.

Favorite Love Stories From The Archives

The Long and Short of Dachshunds in Popular Culture

FALL AND WINTER FASHION FOR DACHSHUNDISTS

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